The historic market town of Knaresborough, North Yorkshire, not far from the Yorkshire Dales, provides the setting to this unique event. Organised by the Knaresborough Lions, The Great Knaresborough Bed Race is a charity event run by volunteers. It attracts roughly 25,000 people to the town and raises around £90,000 for charity each year and was featured on ‘Rory and Paddy’s Great British Adventure’ in 2008. A fantastic day out for all the family.
So what is a bed?
The event consists of 90 teams, each with 6 runners pushing a ‘bed’ containing 1 passenger. The bed isn’t your standard single, double or even 4 poster. Instead it is a metal framed cart with bars and ropes for the runners to push/pull it, a seat for the ‘driver’ to give encouragement and some form of flotation device is always useful for the river crossing.
Before the race there is a parade. Starting at 1pm from Knaresborough Castle it goes through the market place and down the High Street to Conyngham Hall. This gives the teams a chance to show off their dressed bed (the 2013 theme is Myths and Legends), collect money for their charities and generally make fools of themselves.
At Conyngham Hall, which is open for 11am, there are plenty of activities to keep everyone amused, including a fete, amusement rides, displays, food, drinks and ice creams.
Ready, steady, go!
The race itself starts at 3pm, with each bed setting off 10 seconds apart. The runners take a scenic figure of 8 route down alongside the River Nidd, under the viaduct, then up a steep climb to the market place. They then follow a similar route to the earlier parade, down Knaresborough High Street, but this time they cross the bridge at the bottom of the hill and turn right. There is a short section of offroading before the notorious river crossing and muddy climb up the bank to the finish.
The teams usually do it between 15 and 45 minutes, and are ready for 1 or 2 light refreshments at the end. The prizes are then awarded at about 4:30pm, going to the best dressed and most entertaining teams as well as the fastest.
This is a fantastic, fun day out for all the family so why not book your Knaresborough accommodation now. While you’re here why not visit Knaresborough Castle, Mother Shipton’s Cave or do some shopping in Harrogate.
Are you coming to the Knaresborough Bed Race this year? Let us know what you think.